Christie was a British pop band formed at the end of the 1960s.
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Christie was a British pop band formed at the end of the 1960s.
In addition to Jeff Christie (born Jeffrey Christie, 12 July 1946, Leeds, Yorkshire, England) - vocalist, bassist and songwriter; they initially included guitarist Vic Elmes and drummer Mike Blakely (born Michael Blakely, 12 January 1947, Bromley, Kent, England) who is the younger brother of The Tremeloes' Alan Blakely.
Jeff Christie had initially worked with several bands including The Outer Limits, who released "Just One More Chance"/"Help Me Please" (1967) and "Great Train Robbery"/"Sweet Freedom" (1968), and Acid Gallery, whose single "Dance Around The Maypole" (1969) was written by Roy Wood.
That year Jeff Christie offered his composition "Yellow River" to The Tremeloes. They recorded it to release as a single, but when they changed their minds they allowed Christie to use the backing track themselves. The result was a UK number one hit in May 1970, and subsequently #23 in the U.S..
The follow-up single, "San Bernadino" (October 1970) reached UK Number 7 and Number 1 in Germany, but only U.S. #100. Both tracks became flash songs on their eponymous debut album of that year, and it stayed on U.S. Billboard chart for ten weeks. But the trio failed to sustain a lasting career, and Blakley was replaced by Paul Fenton just before the release of the band's second album, For All Mankind (1971).
Lem Lubin (ex-Unit Four Plus Two) was added to the line-up for Iron Horse (1972), but the title track proved to be the band's final hit single. The departure of Fenton and Lubin hastened the demise of the original line-up, but Jeff Christie returned with new members Terry Fogg (drums), Roger Flavell (bass), and Danny Krieger (guitar). A 1974 single "Alabama"/"I'm Alive" failed to resurrect the band's fortunes, and new members Tony Ferguson (guitar) and Roger Willis (drums) were brought in to join Christie and Flavell.
Jeff Christie disbanded the group in 1976. He released two solo singles for the RK label in 1980, and since then has written advertising jingles and appear on classic hits shows singing his greatest hits.
"Jo Jo's Band", written by Elmes, was a chart-topper in Argentina and Brazil, while the last Christie hit, "Navajo", was Number 1 in Mexico.
Jeff Christie reformed the band in 1990 with members of UK band Tubeless Hearts, Kev Moore, Simon Kay and Adrian 'Fos' Foster. They tried to represent United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, but were unsuccessful. They continued to tour for a further twelve years all over Europe, Russia and Israel, recording intermittently.
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Singer/Songwriter from the Northwich area.
Original songs and hundreds of covers you’ll know.
Influences:
Jackson Browne, Andy Shauf, Julien Baker, John Martyn, Bon Iver/Justin Vernon, Radiohead, Pinegrove, Fenne Lily, Mitski, Bob Seger, Frightened Rabbit, Elliot Smith, Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder, Joan Armatrading, Phoebe Bridgers, City and Colour, Fleetwood Mac, Nick Drake, Paolo Nutini, Damien Rice, Regina Spektor, Sharon Van Etten, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers/John Frusciante, Tracy Chapman, Jose Gonzales, Rhye
Iron Horse
Christie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across the great divide
White man brought his thunder
From the other side
Burning smoke and wing of steel
Breathing fire from flaming wheels
Reaching out for a new frontier
Iron horse, iron horse
Keep on burning on its course
Iron horse, iron horse
Burning on and on
Keep on burnin' on
Over sand and water
Across the canyon too
Through the crimson sunset
Its mighty whistle blew
Burning smoke and wing of steel
Breathing fire from flaming wheels
Reaching out for a new frontier
Making sure the way was clear
Iron horse, iron horse
Keep on burning on its course
Iron horse, iron horse
Burning on and on
Keep on burnin' on
Iron horse, iron horse
Keep on burning on its course
Iron horse, iron horse
Burning on and on
Keep on burnin' on
Keep on burnin' on
Keep on burnin' on
The song "Iron Horse" is a tribute to the iconic steam locomotives that were instrumental in opening and expanding the American West. The lyrics tell the story of the white settlers who came to the West, crossing plains, valleys, canyons, and deserts riding the steam engine trains. The "white man" brings his "thunder" across the "great divide" to explore the new lands beyond. The steam engines were considered marvels of technology in their time, represented in the lyrics as "burning smoke and wing of steel," "breathing fire from flaming wheels."
The song's chorus, "Iron horse, iron horse, keep on burning on its course," is a metaphor for the relentless drive of the pioneers to push westward, always seeking new frontiers regardless of the many hardships they faced. Despite the danger and uncertainty of the journey, the pioneers kept on "burnin' on," propelled by the unstoppable power of the iron horse.
"Iron Horse" is a classic example of the country rock sound, a fusion of rock and roll and traditional country music. The song was originally released by the British singer Christie in 1970 and went on to become a hit in the United States, peaking at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's lyrics and upbeat melody captured the spirit of the American West and became an anthem for generations of Americans who were proud of their pioneer heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the plains and valleys
Traversing through flat lands and lowlands,
Across the great divide
Spanning over vast and significant distances,
White man brought his thunder
Caucasian people introduced their powerful machines,
From the other side
From a distant place and possibly from another country,
Burning smoke and wing of steel
Emitting smoke while moving at breakneck speeds on their metal horses,
Breathing fire from flaming wheels
The wheels of these trains were so hot that they were burning, giving an illusion of breathing fire,
Reaching out for a new frontier
Seeking to expand and conquer new territories,
Making sure the way was clear
Ensuring that the path ahead was safe and secure,
Over sand and water
Crossing vast deserts and water bodies with their unstoppable machines,
Across the canyon too
Traversing across deep and dangerous canyons,
Through the crimson sunset
Traveling during sunset, with the sky glowing red,
Its mighty whistle blew
The loud whistle of the train making its presence known,
Iron horse, iron horse
Referring to the steam engine train,
Keep on burning on its course
Continuing to move forward without stopping,
Burning on and on
The train's engine continuously burning fuel to keep moving,
Keep on burnin' on
Encouraging the train to keep moving forward without any halt,
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Phaisal Hanbuntrong
Through the plains and valleys,
Across the great divide,
White man brought his thunder,
From the other side.
Burning smoke and wing of steel,
Breathing fire from flaming wheels,
Reaching out for a new frontier,
Making sure the way was clear.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Burning on and on,
Keep on burning on.
Over sand and water,
Across the canyon too,
Through the crimson sunset,
It's mighty whistle blew.
Burning smoke and wing of steel,
Breathing fire from flaming wheels,
Reaching out for a new frontier,
Making sure the way was clear.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Burning on and on,
Keep on burning on.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on.
Николай Прохоров
Есть какая-то магия в движении паровозов.У самого под задницей побывало пять серий тепловозов и семь -электровозов, но движение паровика по-прежнему завораживает...О чём замечательно спела Кристи
samuel Farris
I've noticed a common theme prevalent in Christie's work; a fascination with the American Dream. This is amplified in Yellow River and it is amplified here, for the song's lyrics despite the location of the video actually refer to the coming of the railroad in North American and its romanticism attached to the Western prairies. Incidentally the location is the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and the locomotive used is still there. Samuel F.
783nata
Какое чудо!!! Спасибо за раритет!!!
Ariel Perez
Tuve la suerte de verlos en vivo en los años 70 en un club de barrio de la ciudad de Rosario, Argentina, primer grupo extranjero llegado a la Argentina mostrando su LP. En ese entonces me parecia increible.
Jorge Morales
Christie, hermosa rola, hermoso recuerdo, mi adolescencia, mi novia....mis amigos....
Phaisal Hanbuntrong
Through the plains and valleys,
Across the great divide,
White man brought his thunder,
From the other side.
Burning smoke and wing of steel,
Breathing fire from flaming wheels,
Reaching out for a new frontier,
Making sure the way was clear.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Burning on and on,
Keep on burning on.
Over sand and water,
Across the canyon too,
Through the crimson sunset,
It's mighty whistle blew.
Burning smoke and wing of steel,
Breathing fire from flaming wheels,
Reaching out for a new frontier,
Making sure the way was clear.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Burning on and on,
Keep on burning on.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on its course.
Iron horse, iron horse,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on,
Keep on burning on.
aubrey danziger
Yes good song
Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railfan
he chased after the train
Juan Salinas
Oh what a memories of my life!!!! God now I can die happily , I heard a song when I was 16!!!! Iron Horse keep running!!!
Edson Pinheiro
Grande sucesso do Christie. Curti e ainda curto muito.